Greta Thunberg Statue

Photo credit - TEDxWinchester

The University of Winchester decided to celebrate its ongoing commitment to sustainability and social justice by erecting the first life-sized bronze statue of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. In honoring Thunberg’s accomplishments, the statue aimed to motivate others to take action.

The university commissioned the renowned artist Christine Charlesworth; among her many artworks are the Emily Wilding Davison memorial in Epsom and the Ethel Smyth statue in Woking.
Charlesworth named the statue Make a Difference and depicted the young self of Thunberg standing on a block, speaking confidently.

The statue was dedicated in West Downs Centre on March 30, 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when many students did not attend the campus in person and immediately raised a lot of criticism about the decision to use £24K for a statue instead of student support.

In 2023, the statue was removed for repairs and was reinstalled in the West Downs courtyard garden in January 2024.

Greta Thunberg (b.2003) is a Swedish environmental activist who rose to international prominence for her youth climate strikes. Thunberg was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at age 11, which she credits as giving her the ability to “not look away” from the climate crisis.

She began her climate activism in August 2018 at age 15 by skipping school every Friday to protest outside the Swedish parliament, demanding more aggressive policies to reduce carbon emissions. Her solitary action soon sparked school strikes globally by youth demanding climate action, growing to a worldwide movement under her Fridays for Future banner.

Thunberg quickly gained fame for blunt, fiery speeches at international forums rebuking world leaders over climate inaction, demanding immediate steep cuts in emissions to limit warming. Thunberg sailed across the Atlantic and led massive climate protests across continents while forgoing air travel for its emissions.

She has become a global icon for youth climate activism through her unwavering moral clarity, inspiring weekly strikes, and pushing the climate emergency to the top of political agendas.

We have not found any evidence that Thunberg has ever visited her statue.

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The University of Winchester, Romsey Rd, Winchester SO22 5FT, United Kingdom

 

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